3 GSDs now 2...Dynamics - Page 1

We have a 9 year old ScH1 male that left for northern Mn a few weeks ago. He will stay there for the summer as he is trained not to chase deer.

The remaining 2 are closer in age and play together constantly. The bitch is 4 /12 and East Euro working lines. The male is Yasko X V RatedNetune daughter. The male is 3 1/2 years and well trained in ringsport. Since "Boss" left he is feeling his oates. Resists Aus command and this morning body checked me as I was passing him I quickly responded by slamming him (reverse pressure correction) into the table. He got it. My wife did not. Its like retraining a pup. Alpha war going on with Boss gone. I always thought having 3 dogs was more work. Turning out 2 is going to be a challenge. I have been around GSDs all my life and a few days on the field and I will get him thinking right. My wife does not understand dog dynamics. He also got on my side of the bed a few nights ago and growled when I aproached. He obeyed my command and slept in his crate.

Anyone ever encounter symilar circumstances? I cant see being blindsided but it never hurts to ask. Thanks.

Can't say that I have, Ryan. I don't let my dogs sleep on the bed.

Hey Don,  Either do I...it was an overt challenge...the 2 young ones sleep downstairs and "Boss" at our bedside. I was ready to really correct him. Touch and go right now. He is still intact and it is normal for dominance challenge. I will prevail. Just wonder if anyone ever bitten. THis is unique when Alpha was a dog and now I am his challenge. He has been great today.  Too hot for ringsport today put I will get hiim in line.

Ryan

Don't get upset!  It's hard to read tone on a computer.  My post had a smart ass under-tone, I know.  The point I am trying to get at isthat usually if you have had the dog from a pup, 3 1/2 is a bit old to grow cajones with it's owner.  Even with your older dog gone, there should have been an order between the two of you.  It just seems odd! I'm very interested in this! 

Has he ever challenged prior to this?  I can't imagine, especially if you have been training the dog in ring, that he would challenge you.  I could see it if he sat in the back yard for the last 3 yrs and you never did anything with him, but you have.  Is he a DDR that is very slow maturing?

I can say I have gone through this, but only when my alpha male died. When they realized he wasn't coming back my other male that is 1/2 west working and 1/2 DDR started to challenge me as well as the other older male I had. Needless to say I had to put him in his place as well. All was well after I put him in check a couple of times. My older male went to a family member.

Missed your humor...bugger snarled at me. Took him to park for an hour for fun. All is well for now. The body check was a test and so was the bed. I believe things are under control. No problems last summer with same circumstances. Banged my knee and winced and he was all over me licking me...believe it was a quick test. I have no problem controling him. Its my wife who thinks love and treats solve all.

Ryan,  Sounds as though you are reading the dog correctly...  Hopefully as you stated things are already corrected by now,  However thought I would throw this experience out for you...No bites as of yet,  and I don't expect it but...

We purchased a male (2 yrs old when we got him) and he decided to "hook up" to me and me ONLY,  he got to the point he would growl at hubby even entering the living room,  while he was on the couch with me,(hubby thought this to be a fun game to play who gets "Mommy")  We do allow our dogs to sleep on the beds, and to snuggle on the couch,  it's just what we preffer.   Anyway,  I had to stop all interaction with this dog,  made hubby take over in training, feeding, grooming,  every aspect of this dog,  Now things are fine,  so long as Hubby does not touch me (playing the game again) when we are with the dog in the yard,  if he does then the dog will still give him a verbal warning,  when he does this,  I step out of the situation and leave the yard,  so that I am taken out of the equation and then all is good again,  It's partially hubby's fault,  as he likes to "Push" the issue,(with the game of who gets the mommy)  Hubby does NOT read a dog at all, (though he tries god bless him for it)  He can not see trouble before it comes, and thinks games are fun,  but does not realize the possbile ramafacations the "games" could bring.  I hope he never has to,  But this dog would go all the way with hubby though he has NEVER challenged my authority to date,  If he did oh boy it would be on and I think he would back down from me,  But if he and hubby ever went at it,  this dog would die trying I think,  Because I do not beleive he would quit unless hubby did so first,   so keeping fingers crossed it never comes to that and we are cautious about how hubby "presents" himself to this particular dog whenever I am in the "picture". 

BTW  the dog has a great temperament,  is fine with visitors, great with all kids,  just has issue with hubby because in my OP he sees me as HIS posession before the hubby's posession.  which is a bit contradictory I know,  as the dog also defers to me as an alpha, and will stop his verbal contempt at the hubby when I scold him for it Immediately curling up like a pup that has been nipped. 

Anyway hopefully sharing this will be of some use,  maybe it will be maybe not,  But thoght I would share anyway.  Best of Luck to you and I hope it all is worked out.    :-)     Anyway thought maybe knowing this dog has not bitten,  (though it's entered his mind, I'm sure of that)  might be of some comfort.  again I wish you the best.

Echo

You took the words right out of my fingers!

That is a huge contradiction.  You have a false sense of dominance.

Hi Ryan,

From where I'm sitting it sounds like you have a good handle on it. We had a similar issue some years ago when Alpha got a little pushy. Tried to hump my shoulder when I sat on the floor, growled at my husband in response to a minor correction. We put a pinch collar on him (Alpah, not husband) and a lead and he had to be where we were all day long. We did a whole lot of obedience commands. Sit. Platz. Hier. Fuss. That sort of thing. If he so much as gave The Eye to one of the other dogs -- because he was pissed and was promising to let it out on them later, and because he was embarrassed at being so tightly controlled by mere humans -- he got a strong correction.

Alpha learned very quickly, within one long weekend, that we are way bigger than he. That we will always win. That we can tell him to do things and he will comply. We had a change in pack dynamics at that time which is what prompted his pushy behaviour with us. We are comforable with his alpha status, as is the rest of the pack. He's fair, swift in asserting order, and he is very forgiving. When it's over, it's over. He doesn't hold a grudge.

He's 13.5 years old now and still boss dog though he rarely has to assert himself anymore. He has pretty much passed the staff to the 3 year old whom he trained to the leadership position since the day we brought the puppy home. Oddly, this younger dog has never once challenged our superiority and we've always wondered whether part of the training he got from Alpha included "Don't mess with the humans!"

Don,   Please....

If that little tid bit helps Ryan out then great,  If not well at least I can feel good about trying...  Please don't do this here too.